HK, Macau, PRC Citizenship for foreigners

[tom.nadeau]

I have a few questions about Hong Kong and Macau permanent residency & Chinese citizenship in general.

1) Are Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR permanent residency aquired the same way? Anyone who lives in one of these territories with a temporary ID card for 7 years can then apply and be sure to receive permanent residency (right of abode) and a PIC (Permanent Identity Card)?

2) And at the same time (after 7 years legal residence as a temporary resident), if you wanted to, you could also apply for Chinese citizenship, giving up your own citizenship in the process, in order to be eligible for a Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passport?

3) Are there any other requirements for obtaining Chinese nationality besides obtaining permanent residency/right of abode in HK or Macau, and renouncing ones previous citizenship? For example, is there a language test or anything else?

4) What are the differences (besides right to remain in either HK or Macau) between the HK and Macau PIC and passport? For example, does the Macau passport give visa-free travel to the same number of countries as the HK passport?

5) Are there any statistics on how many foreigners have aquired Chinese nationality and HK or Macau SAR passports since 1997? I'd love to see the numbers and the breakdown as to former nationality and ethnicity.

6) What advantages would a foreigner obtain by becoming a Chinese national and SAR passport holder as opposed to just being a permanent resident with a PIC?

7) Would marriage to a Hong Kong or Macau PIC-holder speed things up? Would it entitle one to instant permanent residence, or would you merely get a temporary ID card (and right to work?), and still have to wait 7 years in order to become a permanent resident and apply for citizenship and a passport (if you wanted to)?

8) Is there really a double-standard where native Chinese Hong Kong people are allowed to have foreign passports, but foreigners who become Chinese citizens (and HK SAR passport holders) are not allowed to?

[KnowItAll]

A lot of these questions can be answered by the immigration department -- and they do provide relevant responses.

[email protected]

[leonardo]

For Macau you can try this link

http://www.dsi.gov.mo/index_e1.html

Everything there is self-explanatory. For other particulars, I suggest to go to the information section of HK immigration (very professional people) or look for a HK immigration consultant.

[tom.nadeau]

Thanks, guys. Sorry to ask so many questions.

[GsmEasy]

i am Pakistani national citizen and living in china can somebody told me how i can get Macao Business ID

[HKChigger]

I know nothing of Macau, I will try the other ones though.

1) Are Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR permanent residency aquired the same way? Anyone who lives in one of these territories with a temporary ID card for 7 years can then apply and be sure to receive permanent residency (right of abode) and a PIC (Permanent Identity Card)?

In Hong Kong you need to reside here legally for 7 years on any visa (except FDH) and you will get PR. Keep in mind you must RESIDE here.


2) And at the same time (after 7 years legal residence as a temporary resident), if you wanted to, you could also apply for Chinese citizenship, giving up your own citizenship in the process, in order to be eligible for a Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passport?

Yes, you may apply.

3) Are there any other requirements for obtaining Chinese nationality besides obtaining permanent residency/right of abode in HK or Macau, and renouncing ones previous citizenship? For example, is there a language test or anything else?

Providing you got your HKPIC with right to abode, have paid your taxes, plan to continue living here with your family (spouse and children) and know Chinese you are eligible. (of course providing you give up your previous nationality)

4) What are the differences (besides right to remain in either HK or Macau) between the HK and Macau PIC and passport? For example, does the Macau passport give visa-free travel to the same number of countries as the HK passport?

Macau: 89 countries
Hong Kong: 143 countries

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Macau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

5) Are there any statistics on how many foreigners have aquired Chinese nationality and HK or Macau SAR passports since 1997? I'd love to see the numbers and the breakdown as to former nationality and ethnicity.

Not sure, but it is surely South East Asians primarily.

6) What advantages would a foreigner obtain by becoming a Chinese national and SAR passport holder as opposed to just being a permanent resident with a PIC?

Eligible for Home Return Permit to visit mainland China (providing you are not an activist etc) and can travel with the HKSAR passport which may or may not benefit you.

7) Would marriage to a Hong Kong or Macau PIC-holder speed things up? Would it entitle one to instant permanent residence, or would you merely get a temporary ID card (and right to work?), and still have to wait 7 years in order to become a permanent resident and apply for citizenship and a passport (if you wanted to)?

No, you still need 7 years.

8) Is there really a double-standard where native Chinese Hong Kong people are allowed to have foreign passports, but foreigners who become Chinese citizens (and HK SAR passport holders) are not allowed to?

At the end of the day YOU are coming to THEIR country. They need to see you are willing to dedicate yourself to the country and not just collecting nationalities and only going to call yourself Chinese when you need China's help.

Besides Hong Kongers are not officially allowed other nationalities, but it's a bit hard to control, especially as some are born into it.

[jimbo]

Chigger

2007 dude!!!!!!